Rajasthan diaries- Part 8

This is the last post in my Rajasthan diaries series. The incident happened during one of my weekend return trips by train from Delhi to Bharatpur. Romance on the wheels witnessed in classics like DDLJ, JAB WE MET have become part of folklore. My humble self was a silent spectator to one such fairy tale right out of celluloid .............................

BEWITCHED LAD AND THE LOVELY LASS

Location:          Nizammudin Railway Station
My location:    Second class berth of  a train
Time:               8.00 a.m.

I am sitting  in the side chair  of a coupe looking out of the window. My sibling is standing on the platform making faces at me. I notice that a  young lad  about 25 yrs of  age is sitting in the opposite  bench working on his Sony Vaio laptop. A middle aged couple have come to see off their beautiful young daughter. Coincidentally, she is our fellow passenger occupying the bench bang opposite the lad. 


Benign fortune. 


   The train moves & my sibling & I wave to each other. I focus my attention inside the train. The lad appears enchanted with the gorgeous lass. He smiles engagingly at her & launches into a conversation. She is absolutely disinterested.  He gives his name, Arvinder, it is. They are a family of five. Besides his parents, he has an elder brother & a married sister. Parents & brother are based in Chandigarh. He works in a company in Delhi & is visiting Bharatpur on an official tour. He has recently purchased his laptop which boasts of INTEL second generation SANDY BRIDGE processor. Gawd he could talk. His monologue continues for about 20 minutes.  Realising that he is almost making a fool of himself, he informs the coupe in general that such interactions in train journeys can be meaningful & informative. His effort is met with a stony silence. 


Not the one to give up, he continues.... 


LAD: Twada naa ki hai? (What is your name?) 
GIRL:Ayesha, 

The lad is elated. 


Encouraged, he ventures  


LAD: Tussi  kithe rehende sige?(Where are you putting up?)
GIRL:Punjabi Bagh  
LAD: Hmm..


   I get distracted by a vendor selling tea. I courteously offer my sandwiches to the duo. They politely decline the lavish cuisine. I happily munch on the breakfast & tea. The conversation has shifted to Ayesha’s workplace. The lad turns out to be an expert at weaving out thread after thread of words. Modern School, Amity.....& presto they both have a common acquaintance in Manish.  It has worked, Ayesha has became ever so polite after the newfound knowledge. Next half an hour is devoted to anecdotes related to Manish & the gang in general. By the time  the train nears Bharatpur, Arvinder has given his mobile number to Ayesha. She is not so forthcoming, but obliges to part with her email id. Goodbyes are bid.

   We get off at Bharatpur, both the lad & I. Ayesha is travelling ahead. I am waiting for my friends who have promised to pick me up from the station.  I observe Arvinder sitting on a bench & fishing out his diary. He is calling somebody, maybe his company people? I have my answer shortly.  


Hello, Manish, pehchana nahin? main Arvinder xxxxxxxxxx.......
Chal assi miliye  party sharty kariye...
(Hello, Manish, have you not recognised me? This is Arvinder.xxxxxx....Lets meet & party sometime.....).


The bait has been set .......... 


*****End of Rajasthan diaries (Parts 1 to 8)*****